Operating-table.



No. 646,574. Patented Apr. 3, i900. G. E. GORHAM.

OPERATING TABLE.

(Application led Sept. 22, 1898. (No Model.) 4 Sheds-Sheet I.

No. 646,574. Patented Apr. s, |900.I

, G. E. GunHAm.

OPERATING TABLE.

(Application led Sept. 22, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Apr. 3, |900.

. G. E. DIHAM.v DPEBA'TING TABLE.I

(Application @led Sept. 22, 1 898.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

TH: Ncnms Pneus co, Pnoraurno.. wnsmun'romn,

Patented Apr. 3, |900. G. E. GORHAM.

OPERATING TABLE.

(No Nudeln) (Apphcation-led Sept. 22, 1898;)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

YH: mums PE1-sns co. mno-Laws. WASHINGTON, uA c.

UNITED STATES PATENT AErica GEORGE ELMERGORHAM, OF ALBANY, NEV YORK.

O-PERATING-TAB LE.

SPECIFICATON` forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,574, dated April3,1900, Application tiled September 22, 1898. Serial No. 691,642. (Nomodel.)

ful improvements in operatingftables for surgical uses and is designedto embody in an apparatus fully subserving the purpose for which suchtables arel required ease, certainty,

and safety of manipulation, together with great simplicity of structure,moderate weight, and a capacity to be folded into a comparatively-smallcompass, so as to be readilyT shipped or transported.- 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of anoperatingtable embodying my invention, showing the table in a horizontalposition. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof. Fig. 2 represents asection on the line 2f 2L of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 represents the table in the well-known Trendelenburg adjustment.Fig. 4 represents another adjustment of which the table is capable. tionof the table. Fig. 6 represents a central transverse sectional elevationthereof. Fig. 7 is a detail, partly in section, of the removablecross-brace and its means of connection to other parts. Figs. 8, 9, andl0 are details showing the structure of cross-tube and its means ofdetachable connection With the supports. Fig. ll shows in enlargedsectional detail the form of hinge connection for the legs and theirconnected parts. Fig. l2 represents the table partially closed, and Fig.

, 13 represents the table as entirely closed ready I a table-top, andappropriate adjustable supporting-braces. n

The stand consists of the inclined legs a, preferably of metallictubing, connected by Fig. 5 represents an end eleva` the transversetubing b, securely brazed thereto and provided with rounded end plugs cof wood or the like. Vithin the upper ends of the inclined legs arebrazed metal plugs o7., Whose overlapping free ends are perforated forthe passage of the hinge-rod e. The legs a are normally held apart byhinged side braces, consisting of the tubular pieces e, jointed atf to aconnecting cross-rod f. and having at their ends hooks g, engaging withcorresponding eyes upon the coupling-sleeves, which unite the legs a andthe cross-bracesf, as shown.Y

The -table top consists of separate head and foot portions, each ofWhichis built up of a frame of channel-iron, over which is stretched ametallic cover 7o, preferably of sheet-iron, which coveris crimped atits side edges over the upper flange of the channeliron, therebypresenting an absolutely plane smooth surface for the table-topthroughout its entire extent. The frame h is vbraced by cross-tubing t',thereby giving it additional Vstrength and rigidity, and the inner endsof the sheetmetal covers, together with the outer end of thehead-section cover, are bent around corresponding members of this seriesof braces. From the inner ends of tle head and foot sections extendstraps or lugs Z, perforated at their extremities for the passage of thethrough-bolt e and serving as hinges for the bed-top sections. To therear crossbrace of the stand is hinged a frame consisting of theuprightsm and transverse piece w, all preferably of tubing brazedtogether, the said uprights being provided at their upper ends withinwardly-projecting hooks adapted to engage with corresponding eyes uponthe channel-iron portion of the head-section.

The channel-irons of the foot-section at` their outer ends are bentdownwardly to form .t

rolongations h said rolonoations bearing p z: 7 o z;

eyes for the reception of the usual leg-holders' m', the hooks on theleg-holders receiving the customary strap, which passes around the legto elevate it during plastic operations. Spanning the lower portion ofthe extensions h is the removable cross-brace n, provided with a fixedstud at one end for engagement with'a IOC) corresponding aperture in oneof the extening it longitudinally, whereby the brace ln may be removedor inserted,as desired. When the patient is in the Trendelenburgposition, with his legs hanging over the bend of the foot-section, thelegs may be strapped to the cross-brace ln.,thereby obviating allpossibility of an accidental shifting of his position.

In order to bring the foot-section into an inclined position and tosecurely lock it in the inclination chosen, there is interposed betweenthe stand and the foot-section aswinging telescopic frame. The uprightso of this frame are connected by a cross-brace p,brazed thereto, and attheir lower ends are provided with hooks 1J' for engagement withcorrespondingeyesuponthestand. Fromt-heframe of the foot-section dependthe swinging tubes q, hinged at q and having a series of openings qz,spaced at suitable distances apart. A cross-tube r containsspring-seated studs o", adapted to enter the openings q2 and to therebylock the foot-section in the desired plane of inclination. The studs o"are provided with thumb-pieces, whereby they may be shiftedlongitudinally, so as to release them from engagement with the openingsq2, and the lower surfaces of the ends which engage with the openings q2are rounded or inclined, so that the act of raising the foot-sectionwill force the studs rearwardly out of locking engagement with theopenings without the necessity of manipulating the thumb-pieces r2. Itwill also be noted that the openings r3 for the pas sage of the smallpins which connect the thumb-pieces fr2 with the rearends of the studs1" are of angular shape, (see Figs. 9 and 10,) so that the studs r' maybe locked out of engagement by an appropriate manipulation, asillustrated in Fig. lO.

The operating-table when the top is in the horizontal position, as shownin Fig. l, presents the relative arrangement or adjustment ofpartsillustrated in said figure. In order to adjust the top to theTrendelenburg position, (shown in Fig. 3,)it is merely necessary toraise the foot-section of the top by taking hold of the free end thereofand elevating it to the inclined position desired, the telescopic braceframe accommodating itself to this movement, as will be readilyunderstood. Vhen it is desired to bring the head-section into the sameinclined position which is oceupied by the foot-section, as illustratedin Fig. 4, it is merely necessary to actuate the hinged joint connectingthe members e e and to correspondingly bring the table-legs closertogether. This latter adjustment is of special utility where a patientunder the iniiuence of ether exhibits a tendency to succumb, for whichreason it is desirable to quickly bring him into an inclined position,with his head lowermost, so that the heavy ether-vapors may more readilyissue from his lungs. The same adjust-ment is also of service to enablethe operator to have close access to the head of the patient at a lowlevel.

In some i1istances-as,forinstance,wl1en operating upon the lowerorifices of the bodythe patient is drawn forward, so that the back andhead rest wholly upon the foot-section of the table. The head-sectionmay thereupon be dropped upon its hinges, so as to permit the persongiving the anesthetic to sit where he can easily reach the patientshead.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated the manner in which the table isfolded in order to readily transport or ship it, the folding operationbeing readily apparent frorn the illustration given. It will be notedthat in order to fold the table the cross-bar 'n is removed, asillustrated in Fig. 12, and after the table has been entirely folded thecross-bar n is again inserted in place, thereby locking the folded partstogether.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. An operating-tablecomprising a stand,

a table-top made up of a foot-section and a' head-section -hinged attheir adjacent ends to the stand and each adapted to be tilted inopposite directions to a position either above or below the top of thestand, and braces for maintaining them at the desired incline;substantially as described.

2. An operating-table comprising a stand, a table-top made up of afoot-section and a head-section hinged at their adjacent ends to thestand and each adapted to be tilted in opposite directions to a positioneither above or below the top of the stand, and braces for maintainingthem at the desired incline, the foot-section having dependingextensions at its free end and a cross-bar spanning said ex; tensions;substantially as described.

An operating-table, comprising a stand having inclined legs and atable-top made up of a foot-section and head-section, the said legs andthe said sections being connected by a hinge-joint common to them alland upon which they are adapted to fold; substantially as described.

4. An operating-table, comprising a stand having inclined legs and atable-top made up of afoot-section and head-section, the said legs andthe said sections being connected by a hinge-joint colnmon to them alland upon which they are adapted to fold, and hinged longitudinal foldingbraces spanning thelegs substantially as described.

5. An operating-table comprising a stand having inclined legs and atable-top made up of a foot-section and head-section, the said legs andthe said sections being connected by a hinge-joint common to them alland upon which they are adapted to fold, and hinged longitudinal foldingbraces spanning the said legs, said braces being united at theirhingejoints by a connecting cross-rod; substantially as described.

G. An operating-table, comprising a stand having inclined legs and atable-top made up of afoot-section and head-section,` the said legs andthe said sections being connected by a hinge-joint common to them alland upon which they are adapted to fold, and hinged braces between thestand and the outer ends longitudinal folding braces spanning the legs,and connected t0 the table-legs by interlocking loops or eyes;substantially as described.

7. An operating-table comprising a stand having inclined legs hingedtogether at their upper ends, a table-top made up of a footsection and ahead-section hinged upon the same axis as the said legs, and adjustableof the table-sections; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE ELMER GORHAM. Witnesses:

J. W. MATTICE,

EDWARD KAEsTNER.

